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Scholarships, Financial Aid for International Students at McGill

I've looked through the McGill website, called the office, and emailed them many many times, and I still haven't gotten good, clear answers for my questions. I haven't been admitted yet, but planning to apply this year. Here are my questions, copied directly from the email I sent them and been replied to with the shortest, most useless answers:

1) I've graduated from an international school that works under the American system, but that is not within the United States. I have received a US High School Diploma. Would that qualify me, for the minimum academic requirement options for the entrance scholarships, as a student from a United States High School or simply Overseas High School?

2) Is it possible to be considered for the scholarships for documents other than the ones stated below the minimum academic requirements page? For example, for the US High School they mention "MINIMUM A average (at least 95% or GPA of 4.00, or equivalent) over last two years of full-time studies, and minimum score of 700 in each SAT or 33 in the ACT." But if I have other scores, such as AP scores, SAT subject tests, and TOEFL scores, will those be considered for scholarships or would that be unnecessary? If it is unnecessary, is it then ONLY SAT, ACT, and GPA that are considered for the scholarships?

2) If any of my academic scores are below the requirement, am I automatically not eligible for a scholarship, or is there still a chance I receive the scholarship?

3) I came across the list of all the entrance scholarships here: List of Current Entrance Scholarships | Scholarships and Student Aid - McGill University, and was wondering if all those scholarships really are part of the Basic Entrance Scholarships. I was confused that I found many scholarships that happen to be renewable and above 3,000$ when in the description of the Basic Entrance Scholarships, it says that they award only annual scholarships valued at 3,000$. Also, is it possible to get more than one of these many scholarships in the list, or is it possible to receive only one?

4) I read about the Entrance Bursaries that are given to prospective students, and read that being awarded these bursaries depends on one's financial status and academic standing. As in academic standing, are there any minimum academic requirements that must be fulfilled, like the scholarships, to be awarded these bursaries? Also, is the process for receiving these bursaries as competitive as it is for the Entrance Scholarships?

5) I've also read through the Work-Study Program in McGill, but despite my attempts I have been unable to figure out an estimated amount of money that could be made through this process. I was wondering if I could get information, for example, as to how much on average students who are part of the Work-Study Program make a year, or alike.

Replies to: Scholarships, Financial Aid for International Students at McGill

2) McGill will ONLY look at the requirements they have listed. So yes, only the SAT/ACT/GPA will matter when it comes to scholarships. If your academic scores are below the requirement you are automatically not eligible for the entrance scholarship. (The $3000 one.) However, if you are really close to the academic requirements, you may want to look into applying for the Major Renewable Scholarship, because that application gives you room to expand on your extracurriculars.

4) I'm pretty sure there are no minimum academic requirements for these bursaries. It really all depends on your parent's income/assets/etc.

5) How much you make from the work study all depends on how much you work... (sorry for the obvious statement.) For example, I had a work study in an electro-physiology lab for my first 2.5 years here (I got lucky, and picked up during the winter of my first year).

The entire operation was incredibly lax -- basically, I was making my own hours (and for that matter, making my own work).

Some people, on the other hand, get work-study jobs in the student cafs. Those pay more, but have regular shifts, so you can easily figure how much you'll make (assuming you show up to every shift).

Even though you didn't ask, specifically, about this, I thought I'd post a note about scholarships:

I believe I was told, in an email a while back, that you can receive up to $5000 in in-course scholarship. I know there's a $10k entrance-scholarship, but I think a ridiculously small number of kids get that a year, so unless you're stellar, don't count on it (sorry). What this means to you, is that you'll most likely be vying for in-course scholarships and university bursaries to help ease the cost of attendance.

In course scholarships are fairly competitive and depend on the GPA attained from the year's course-work. So, if your GPA from the fall and winter is 3.7, yet your overall GPA (CGPA) is something around 3.6, it's okay: they don't want you competing against people who have been here longer or shorter than you, they'll only pay attention to your 3.7. In this way, though it sort of isn't fair, because first years have easier courses than fourth years, so a 4.0 in first year isn't really a big deal. Whereas, a 3.7 in your fourth year (when you're taking grad work as well), is a bit more impressive.

Bursaries, on the other hand, are completely aid-based. Meaning, CGPA of 4.0 or 2.0, if you're not "poor", you're not getting help. Personally, I find the financial-aid people at McGill to be pretty nice and understanding. Their only rule is that they cannot give you aid, unless you take loans out. So your bursaries -- although are free -- come at the price of government loans. This is something to keep in mind: you can't expect to walk away from McGill without loans (if you expect some grant/bursary money).

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